That final layer in a home is so important, and can also be the hardest for us when we’re designing for our clients. The reason being it’s this last layer that puts your individual stamp on a home. It’s so personal, it should reflect you and tell everyone who comes into your home a little bit about you. When you look around and you’re surrounded by things you love, some of which may have memories or meanings attached, this is what makes your space so enjoyable and special for you to be in.
“Disco Shoes’ by Brian Culy | photo: Florence Charvin
Out of all the elements, art is by far the most challenging for us because it’s so subjective, but for that reason it’s one of the most special and impactful elements. We can recommend to our clients to keep the colour palette relevant to the rest of the room, and help get the scale right and the frame, but the art itself needs to ‘speak’ to its owner (note: scale is everything! You are going to want to go bigger than you think).
Commisioned artwork by Robyn Fleet | photo: Florence Charvin
For anyone that is interested in starting their art journey we asked local art gallery owners, Richard and Elisa Boyd-Dunlop of Boyd-Dunlop Gallery, for their expert advice on all things art…
What should you look for in a piece of art?
BOYD-DUNLOP: Find that piece of artwork that sings to you. You may feel powerful emotions and a strong attraction to it, something that has the x-factor. Art is subjective so each person will have a uniquely different view or experience with different artworks. Art can be a great way to celebrate key moments in your life or remind you of a person or place of significance. It’s a great way to spend time with others you live with, or friends, or an art group, and of course provide a stimulus to conversation when people visit your home.
Does art always increase in value?
BOYD-DUNLOP: You shouldn't see art as a commodity but as a pleasure. The money invested in art is an investment in your pleasure. Everyday you walk past a piece of artwork it speaks to you on a higher level which can't be quantified in monetary terms.
Of course some artworks do increase in value sometimes in a short space of time, we have watched it happen over the years. If you are wanting to buy art as an investment there is investment grade art, which is characterised by artists who have a strong collector base, recognised names and a track record of achieving high, if not record breaking auction sales.
How do you spot a breakthrough artist or next big thing?
BOYD-DUNLOP: There is no sure way to spot the next art star, however due diligence and time spent gathering information from as many sources as possible will help with this. Take time to visit dealer galleries and form a relationship with the dealers who can guide you. Visit art fairs, art school shows and a range of dealer galleries. Also read art magazines and publications, both hardcopy and digitally, such as Art NZ, Art News, Artnet, Art Collector, and The Art Paper. Following art competitions is great way to spot emerging talent, as artists need to be motivated to crack the big time with a capacity to continue to produce great work.
Are art prints good investments?
BOYD-DUNLOP: Art prints such as screenprints and limited editions can be a good investment when they are from recognized artists and can be very collectable. The print market has proven to be solid in auction as we have seen some artists achieving much higher values than those spent originally purchased for in the galleries. It is good to do your research here to see if any of these editions are making it to auction and what kind of prices they are getting. When buying print editions consideration should be taken on how large the edition is and what the print medium is, also whether the art print is signed or authenticated by the artist. A screenprint is still a handmade artwork requiring layering of pigment whilst a digital prints are reproduced using a printer. Traditionally screenprints were seen to be more valuable however in recent times the digital archival qualities have brought forward digital print values.
What do edition numbers mean (eg 1/30 or A/P, OE)?
BOYD-DUNLOP: Edition numbers - for example, 1 of 30 mean there are only 30 of that image printed and the 1 denoted that this is the first of the 30.
Usually screenprints, and sometimes digital prints, have an artist proof. These are marked as A/P, this is usually the first print from which the artist ascertains that they are happy with the artwork. Sometimes there is more than one A/P print available and also these can have irregularities if changes have been made before the final print run is made. Sometimes the A/Ps are considered more valuable than the edition as they are seen as more rare.
OE stands for open edition, in these cases there is no set number or print editions however often these prints can still be limited as the artist constraints may mean only so many ever get printed.
Limited edition prints by surrealist Jeremy McCormick available exclusively through Boyd-Dunlop Gallery
If a painting is reproduced in print form does it decrease its value?
BOYD-DUNLOP: If a painting has been reproduced in print this does not necessarily decrease the value of the artwork, usually the print functions to make the artwork more known to the public therefore increasing the value of the artwork. An artist owns the rights to an image he or she is painted, not the owner of the image unless they have bought copyright of the image. It has become more common to reproduce painted images in the print Edition now that digital quality has become archival. This also helps the artist with an additional income stream and in support of the artists we believe this is a good idea.
What is the ideal amount of art needed in a home and are there rules about spacing artworks?
BOYD-DUNLOP: Art is an important part of the home as it sets the mood and personality of the owners. There are no real rules around spacing in your home although it is good to give each piece its own space, and also have the centre of the painting at eye level so as to relax while viewing the painting. As your collection grows this could be harder to achieve but is also part of the fun of an art collection.
Make sure you put thought into the placement of artworks, for example, if you have photographic prints make sure they're not in direct sunlight. Oil paintings are more durable and can withstand more sunlight than artist prints. If you have a minimalistic home one or two large pieces could be all the personality you need for your house.
How do you start an art collection?
BOYD-DUNLOP: If you are looking at starting an art collection you can begin as small as you want. Art collecting is a fun activity almost like a sport. It can be done alone, or with a partner, or a group of like minded friends or colleagues. You and your partner can share research, visit the galleries and see what you like. This is the most important thing - there's no point in having something on your wall that you do not like.
Visit student shows, group exhibitions, local exhibitions and see what galleries are doing online, and ask around to read magazines. There are no rules about collecting. Some collectors approach their collections differently wanting to get certain artists in their collection. You do not need a large budget to start an art collection. Start off small and once you learn more you can then start to make more daring purchases. Keep your collection diverse, keep your collecting fun, like any other collection it should be enjoyable.
How do you start an art group?
BOYD-DUNLOP: Starting an art group is something to do with people that enjoy getting together and discussing art, talking about their purchases, and also should be an enjoyable venture. Keep it simple and set out ground rules early on as you don't want to get caught up in any controversy over works that might start to increase in value. Set up a budget and also do your research, don't just jump into the first thing you see. You may decide that you each get a turn to purchase, or that one member brings a selection of three choices to the group and then a vote is taken. Works can be rotated amongst the members' homes. This is a great way to pool knowledge and resources across more people. However the more minds involved in the purchase the harder it can be to decide.
Do you have payment options at Boyd-Dunlop Gallery?
BOYD-DUNLOP: Absolutely, we have quite a few clients who like to use My Art to purchase. It is a really easy and nice way for people to finance art purchases interest free. Quite a few people like to use it to allocate their monthly art budget, and the great thing is you get the artwork right away.
We also offer layby and payment plans in the gallery regularly, however people have to wait until it is all paid off before they take the art home.
Thanks so much to Richard and Elisa, that information is so helpful. If you’d like to visit their Boyd-Dunlop Gallery you can find it at 4 Hastings Street, Napier. You can make an appointment for a personal viewing or simply pop in, they’re open seven days.
If you’re still learning what sort of art really appeals to you, and want to get super inspired, one of my favourite ways is checking out Architectural Digest’s “Open Door" on YouTube. You get to step inside celebrities’ homes and get a personal tour. Celebrities are creative people and these homes are always unique and packed with personality - some will appeal to you, some won’t, but what I love is that each home is a great representation of the owner/s. Their artwork is often very personal and very cool. Some of my personal faves are Lenny Kravitz, Sienna Miller, Sarah Paulson, and Troye Sivan. Go well on your art journey.
Troye Sivan’s home by Flack Studio